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The Words and Music of Prince
Book Code: C9474
ISBN: 0-275-99474-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-275-99474-7
224 pages, photos
Praeger Publishers
Publication: 4/30/2008
List Price: $44.95 (UK Sterling Price: £25.95)
Availability: In Stock
Media Type: Hardcover
Also Available: Ebook
Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4
Subjects: Reviews:
  • Avid fans of Prince and collections catering to fans of rock music will find this a fine in-depth survey covering the basics of Prince's life works, blending an introductory biography of the artist with an in-depth analysis of all his musical pieces both individually and collectively. The author is a professor of music at the college level: his survey offers an outstanding analysis of Prince's purposes and directions and is a "must" for any in-depth appreciation of Prince's works.
    —California Bookwatch
    September 2008
  • In this revealing study author James Perone highlights the complexities and ambiguities of Prince's life work, while at the same time clarifying why it is that Prince remains such a widely popular figure in American music. After a brief introductory biographical treatment, Perone goes on to analyze all of Prince's musical output-both as specific pieces, and as part of a larger body of work. Perone doesn't allow any of the elements of Prince's entertainment career (including his early contractual problems, his series of protégées, his name change, and his views on gender and race) to pass without reflection, and as a result The Words and Music of Prince operates as a sort of creative biography for both the man and the artist.
    —The Dawn Experience
    February 8, 2008
Description: Prince's early albums Dirty Mind, 1999, and Purple Rain, established him as a major force in American pop music. His combination of rock and funk was unique, and drew both critical praise and commercial attention. The 1990s found Prince forming a new group, moving back in the direction of R&B, and eventually adopting an unpronounceable symbol as his moniker. By the end of the millennium, he was again exploring an eclectic collection of musical styles and enjoying a resurgence of interest in his well-known song "1999." Prince is one of the few artists of the entire rock era who successfully bridged the gap between traditional R&B and rock audiences with his musical eclecticism. He now stands among the best-selling pop musicians of the rock era. In this revealing study, author James Perone highlights the complexities and ambiguities of Prince's life work, while at the same time clarifying why it is that Prince remains such a widely popular figure in American music. After a brief introductory biographical treatment, Perone goes on to analyze all of Prince's musical output-both as specific pieces, and as part of a larger body of work. Perone doesn't allow any of the elements of Prince's entertainment career (including his early contractual problems, his series of protégés, his name change, and his views on gender and race) to pass without reflection. As a result The Words and Music of Prince operates as a sort of creative biography for both the man and the artist. The work also includes six illustrations, a bibliography, a discography, and an index.
Table of Contents:
  • Series Foreword by James E. Perone
  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
  • 1. Becoming a Star
  • 2. Mixing Funk and Rock with the Revolution
  • 3. Film Scores and Contractual Problems
  • 4. The New Power Generation and a Name Change
  • 5. The Approach of 1999
  • 6. The New Millennium
  • Conclusions: The Importance of Being Prince
  • Selected Discography
  • Notes
  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Index
LC Card Number: 2008000540
LCC Class: ML420
Dewey Class: 781
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